Track SEO Success: Metrics, Assessment, and Tools for Effective Results
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Can You Track SEO Success?
- The Mystery of SEO Tracking
- The Role of an Outsider
- Key Performance Indicators
- The Time Factor
- The Waiting Game
- The Average Timeframe
- Visualizing Success
- The Green vs. Blue Comparison
- How Visibility Evolves
- Four Metrics to Track
- Website Visitors from Google
- Overall Website Visitors
- Lead Generation and Sales
- Overall Company Revenue
- Reporting Frequency
- Monthly Check-ins
- Quarterly Reflections
- Yearly Assessments
- Additional Metrics to Consider
- Ranking Keywords
- Google Index Coverage
- Visibility Index
- Tools for Tracking
- Google Search Console
- Google Analytics
- Mangools Watcher
- Conclusion
- Resources
📝 Can You Track SEO Success?
Have you ever wondered if you can truly track the success and progress of SEO (Search Engine Optimization)? Is it possible to do so even if you're not an expert, such as a business owner, client, or marketing professional? In this article, we will explore the various criteria one should consider and how often these metrics should be monitored. We will also delve into the importance of assessing the performance of your SEO team or agency to ensure effective results. My name is Sebastian Grasger, and I am the owner and CEO of a SEO and Google Ads agency based in Vienna. We specialize in helping companies throughout Europe generate more customers and increase their revenues online. If you're looking to expand your customer base and revenue through the internet or even work with our agency, feel free to reach out to us at office@habs-digital.com.
🕵️ The Mystery of SEO Tracking
For many, SEO can be a bit of a black box. You hire someone, pay invoices, or allocate budget for personnel costs, but you're not exactly sure if things are working or not. We once had a client who had spent many years in the industry, just like her competitors. However, despite her efforts, her practice wasn't as full as her competitors'. This was largely due to the poor work done by our predecessor. To prevent you from investing years of your time with potentially no results, this video is essential.
The impact of SEO is not immediate. You can't just launch a campaign and expect to see results within a few weeks. It takes time to let the strategies and tactics work their magic. Based on our experience, SEO typically takes somewhere between 3 and 12 months to start showing significant effects. The initial three months are like quick wins, but it's around the 12-month mark where you can reach an average level of success. Of course, you must consistently deliver standard and foundational work to eventually achieve a prominent position. Imagine two competitors, a green one and a blue one, in a market. Over the past five years, you can see how the green's visibility on Google declines while the blue consistently grows. This graph demonstrates that SEO is a long-term game that requires patience and persistence.
🎯 Key Performance Indicators
In any SEO project, there are four crucial metrics that demand attention. Firstly, you should track the number of website visitors generated through Google search. Google Search Console is the perfect tool for this purpose as it provides vital data without any tracking issues. Secondly, monitor the overall website visitors using Google Analytics or any other preferred analytics tool. This will give you insights into how your visitor count evolves over time. Thirdly, keep an eye on lead generation and sales. If your website is an online shop, track the number of purchases made. You can dive deeper by analyzing whether the customers are new or returning and even evaluate the average value of their shopping carts. Lastly, consider the overall revenue of your company. Although this is influenced by numerous factors, relating it back to SEO efforts can help you understand the correlation. Keep in mind that hundreds of criteria can impact your total revenue, such as changes in laws or incoming and expiring grants. Regardless, it's important to display a strong SEO curve to gain insights into the business and adjust strategies accordingly.
⌛ The Waiting Game
How frequently should you review these metrics? In my opinion, it's best to break it down into three categories. The first category is the monthly check-in. Reviewing your metrics each month allows you to assess whether you're on the right track. Identify which numbers have increased or decreased and compare them to the same month in the previous year. This analytical approach can help you make small adjustments to your strategies. The second category is the quarterly reflection. This is a time to reflect on the previous quarter and learn from it. Take the opportunity to analyze whether your goals were achieved and question the effectiveness of your current approaches. Based on this evaluation, you can make strategic decisions for the next quarter. Lastly, conduct a yearly assessment. This is essential for determining the progress made in comparison to the previous year. Evaluate the applied strategies, whether they were successful or not, and discuss the results with your team, including both external agencies and internal staff. These meetings provide valuable insights that can shape effective strategies for the upcoming year.
📊 Visualizing Success
To better present your metrics, you can create reports using a tool such as Google Data Studio. These reports allow you to compare the performance of different periods, such as the current year compared to the previous year. For instance, let's take a look at a client's report where we were able to double the website traffic generated through Google. Overall, the website received approximately 43% more traffic compared to the previous year. This means that there might be other external factors affecting the traffic, but we remain confident that with the right adjustments, we can regain momentum and further increase traffic and conversions. Creating reports that visualize your progress and comparing them to previous periods can help you identify trends and make informed decisions as a team.
📈 Additional Metrics to Consider
In addition to the four key metrics, there are other important indicators you should monitor. One of them is the number of ranking keywords. Keep track of how many keywords rank in the top 10 search results, as this indicates the visibility of your website. Another metric is the Google Index coverage. It shows you how well Google interprets and indexes your website or online shop. By understanding the trends and tendencies, you can determine whether your visibility is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable. Additionally, pay attention to the Visibility Index, an attempt by Google to express your website's visibility in numerical form. This index is reevaluated daily, resulting in fluctuating curves. Reviewing these metrics will help you gain insights into your progress and adjust your strategies accordingly.
🛠 Tools for Tracking
To track and analyze these metrics effectively, there are several tools you can utilize. Google Search Console is a valuable tool for monitoring website visitors generated through Google search. You can also leverage Google Analytics or other analytics tools to gain a comprehensive understanding of your overall website visitors. For tracking ranking keywords and analyzing their changes, Mangools Watcher is a great tool. It provides daily updates on your rankings, allowing you to visualize the improvements over time. By utilizing these tools, you can make data-driven decisions and optimize the performance of your SEO efforts.
💡 Conclusion
Tracking SEO success is not only possible but essential for driving results and making informed decisions. By monitoring key metrics such as website visitors, lead generation, and overall revenue, you can evaluate the effectiveness of your SEO strategies. Remember to review these metrics on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis to continuously refine your approaches. Don't forget to utilize tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and Mangools Watcher for accurate tracking and analysis. With a proactive approach to tracking and optimizing SEO efforts, you can maximize your online presence and achieve long-term success.
📚 Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does it take to see results from SEO?
A: SEO is a long-term strategy, and it usually takes between 3 and 12 months to start seeing significant effects. Quick wins can be achieved within the first three months, but it takes consistent effort and foundational work to achieve sustainable success.
Q: How often should I review my SEO metrics?
A: It is recommended to review your SEO metrics on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis. Monthly check-ins allow you to track progress and make small adjustments, while quarterly reflections provide an opportunity for strategic decision-making. Yearly assessments help evaluate the overall impact and set goals for the upcoming year.
Q: What are some other important metrics to track in SEO?
A: In addition to website visitors, lead generation, and revenue, it is crucial to monitor metrics such as ranking keywords, Google Index coverage, and visibility index. These metrics provide insights into the visibility and performance of your website on search engines.
Q: What tools can I use to track SEO metrics?
A: Google Search Console is a valuable tool for tracking website visitors generated through Google search. Google Analytics is ideal for monitoring overall website visitors and analyzing user behavior. Mangools Watcher is useful for tracking ranking keywords and their changes over time.
Q: Is SEO success solely dependent on website traffic?
A: While website traffic is an important metric, SEO success goes beyond just increasing traffic. Lead generation, sales, and overall revenue are equally important indicators of successful SEO efforts. It's crucial to focus on generating relevant and high-converting traffic to maximize the impact of SEO.
